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 Having practical mechanisms in place eg if a student wants to move to a different hall of residence.  To feel believed and respected.  To be provided with regular updates once have reported to university/students’ union/police.  Well-trained staff.  Clear referral pathways. It is also clear that the above considerations are in line with the factors that have been raised in the evidence for responding to reports of violence against women and sexual harassment, suggesting that there are commonalities in the approach. The Equality Challenge Unit’s (ECU) input highlighted the transgender equality report produced by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee.106 In relation to the higher and further education sectors, the Committee observed that levels of bullying and harassment experienced by trans students ‘are unacceptable’. They also welcomed an offer from the minister for skills to raise this issue with university vice-chancellors and discuss whether enough is being done when complaints are made. The Committee recommended that government should ensure that all further education and university staff receive gender identity awareness training and that institutions should proactively promote trans equality.107 The ECU also highlighted the conclusions of the submission made by the University of Sussex’s Hate Crime Unit (SHCU) to the Women and Equalities Committee. As the NUS research found, their findings suggest that trans people are more likely than non-trans LGB people to have been a direct or indirect victim of hate crime involving physical assaults, physical assaults with weapons, verbal abuse and online abuse. SHCU’s evidence suggests that trans people ‘…are doubly victimised and affected, above and beyond other commonly stigmatised and harassed groups.’108 While this research is not based on students alone, the SHCU evidence is the most up to date on the effects on trans and LGB people experiencing hate crime. A National LGBT Hate Crime Framework Group has been set up by LGBT Consortium109 to map the range and diversity of LGBT Hate Crime service delivery across the UK. This aims to develop a common programme to increase the overall opportunities for LGBT people to report homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crime, focusing on existing services to do so.110 This could provide opportunities for universities to link up with local and regional http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39002.htm 108 SHCU submission to Women and Equalities Committee available at http://data.parliament.uk/WrittenEvidence/CommitteeEvidence.svc/EvidenceDocument/Women per cent20and per cent20Equalities/Transgender per cent20Equality/written/19415.html 109 LGBT Consortium is a national membership organisation focusing on the development and support of LGBT groups, projects and organisations. 110 http://www.lgbthatecrime.org.uk/#project-overview 106 107 83